History and Support of the Facility

The confocal microscope was obtained from a NIH Shared Resource Grant (NCRR RR14637-01). The PI on the grant was Lisa Stehno-Bittel and the Co-PI was Michael Werle. The original grant was submitted in March 1999. The award ($497, 981) was made in April, 2000. The next year was spent in determining the best equipment for use, and for getting the purchase through the state bid system. The instrument was installed in October, 2001. Costs incurred in the installation, (plumbing, electrical) were covered by the office of Research, KMA Welch, Associate Vice Chancellor for Research.

A confocal facility manager (Elizabeth Petroske, Ph.D.) was hired in April, 2002. A second room (B014 Lied) was approved for use as an office and for the location of the second image analysis workstation in May, 2002. This was the last barrier to the official full opening of the facility, which occurred on June 1, 2002.

The equipment maintenance agreement has been funded by an award from the Kansas Biomedical Research Infrastructure network. The support from this network has allowed us to keep the fees charged for the facility low.

Elizabeth Petroske left the University at the end of March 2007. Eric Grimes was hired to fill her position a few months later. The facility reopened in the fall of 2007 with refinements and improvements.